MAY: This Month in Black History

May 22: This Day in Black History

FEATURED: Johnny Gill 1862: Mary Patterson became the 1st African American in the U.S. to earn a Master’s Degree. 1914: Composer, bandleader, musician, poet & philosopher Sun Ra was born. He passed in 1993. 1939: Film, stage & TV actor Paul Winfield was born. The best (and my favorite) narrator for the A&E true crime series ‘City Confidential’ which he did from 1998 until his death in 2004. 1942: Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Calvin Simons was born. He was a member of the bands Parliament & Funkadelic. 1954: #1 R&B Song-‘Work With Me Annie’- Hank Ballard & the Midnighters. 1966: Bill Cosby received an Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Television Series (I Spy). 1966: Happy Birthday to singer, songwriter and actor Johnny Gill who turns 48 today. 1967: Poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist Langston Hughes passed away at age 65. 1970: Happy Birthday to super model Naomi Campbell who turns 44 today. 1973: Happy Birthday to R&B singer, songwriter & record producer Donell Jones who turns 41 today. 1976: Donna Summer charted with ‘Could It Be Magic’ originally covered by Barry Manilow. 1978: Happy Birthday to actor J.D. Williams who turns 36 today. 1980: Electric Ladyland Studios was robbed of four gold albums, all belonging to Jimi Hendrix. 1993: Salt-N-Pepa performed at a benefit to raise money for AIDS patients called LIFEbeat’s Counteraid. 2002: Barry Bonds hit his 583rd career home run. 2002: A jury in Birmingham convicted former KKK member Bobby Frank Cherry of the 1963 murders of four girls in the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church. 2004: Stage & TV actor Richard Biggs passed away at age 44.

The month of February and Black History Month has come to a close but that doesn’t mean we have to stop celebrating Black history. Black history happens every day and we intend to keep right on celebrating as well as featuring a gallery dedicated to those who made a difference long ago and today.